Fantastic FruitWritten by Bob Bassett
The classic fruit gift basket is a great gift for family, friends and coworkers. The Christmas citrus sampler is almost a tradition in some families. But fruit gift baskets aren't just for holidays, they are great anytime.In addition to classic citrus fruit in a gift basket or box, there are options that include apples, pears, pineapples, and all manner of domestic and exotic fruits. If you prefer a little more variety, look for fruit gift baskets that also include crackers, cheeses, and sweet dips such as chocolate sauce or caramel. Fruit gift baskets range in price from about $20 for a small sampler to over $300 for deluxe arrangements. There are also a variety of sizes available, making suitable gifts for everyone from your child's teacher to whole family. A fruit gift basket is a thoughtful choice for expressing sympathy, saying thank you, or corporate gift giving. With such a wide range of choices, it's possible to find something in any price range. For long distance gift giving, online retailers can ship your fruit basket. For something a bit different, try a fruit and flowers gift basket.
| | The Delight of Coffee Shop Diners!Written by Randy Wilson
Coffee Shop Diners a thing of past? Nah! Drive down US Route 40 or Route 66 through America, and you’ll see gleaming, stainless steel diners in almost every town and city. These restaurants may seem like a relic of a bygone era, but they almost always have cars outside and people inside. How can it be possible that such places still hold a piece of American Dream? No one really knows, but after almost 150 years, coffee shop diners are still a strong piece of Americana. The classic coffee shop diner got its start back in 1858 when a man by name of Walter Scott started selling sandwiches to people in Providence, Rhode Island. By late 1800’s, diner owners bought old, decommissioned street cars and turned them into diners, adding a counter, some stools and a kitchen. Then came 1950’s, and diners were transformed into a form recognized today – lots of stainless steel, large windows, and art deco décor. Over past fifty years, diners have disappeared and changed hands many times over. Journalists have frequently extolled about impending loss of diner. But it never seemed to happen. Instead, diners keep going year after year, with new owners serving same great customers and travelers who are just passing through. Today, coffee shops and diners are located in towns and cities, airports and bus and train stations. Most offer a fairly large menu with a wide variety of standard American food--chicken, hamburgers, eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Most still prominently feature a counter with stools in addition to tables where waitresses take your order. A large number of these diners are in major metropolitan areas and stay open 24 hours a day, offering cheap food at all hours of day and night. They’re frequented by people of every walk of life.
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